Stretching and fitting device



June 2s, 193s. J 'PETTY 2,121,822

. STRETCHING AND yF'I'TDIG DEVICE Fiied July e, 1956 M Muay/V l ATTORNEY40 ator. so that the kyle will stretch the skin, hide Patented June 28,1938 PATENT OFFICE s'mE'roHING AND FITTING DEVICE Joseph Petty, PortChester, N; Y. Application .July 6,1936, serial No. 89,149

s o1aims. (c1. 22a-'61) This invention relates tofimprovements vin astretching and tting device and has particular V relation to apparatusfor stretching, shaping, and fitting leather and hide, particularly furskins.

Devices of this n general character, which are sometimes referred to askyles, have previously Y been used in stretching and shaping skins,Yhides and the like, particularly in the manufacture of fur coats andgarments to cause them to fit properly and conform toV the lhumanfigure. Prior devices, however, have been unsatisfactory and have hadnumerous disadvantages, among them the lfact that they were notadjustable, and, accordingly, it was necessary .to have kyles of varyingsizes and shapes in order to stretch or shape the skins and furs toamount.

the desired It vis an object of the present invention to vovercome thediiiiculties heretofore encountered and to provide an improved kyle orstretching and shapingdevice which is readil y adjustable but .which isprovided with means for holdingit` in clamping position when. in use andprevent it from being accidentally released.

Another object is the provision of la kyle or the like having improvedadjusting means which may be conveniently `manipulated by theoperator sothat the kyle will stretch the skin, hide` or fur to the desired amountand constructed that the adjustment accidentally released.

`which lis so will not be Another object isi the provision of a kyle orthe like vhaving improved adjusting means. which may be convenientlymanipulated by the opere or j fur tothe desired amount and constructedthat theadjustment will dently disturbed when-'the kyle is in 'which issol not be acciuse.

' For a fuller understanding of the invention reference should be had tothe accompanying Fig. 1 is a side elevation partially in section vof astretching and shaping device embodyingr I 'my invention showing in,dottedk lines a clamping member in partially elevated position and infull lines'a clamping member in clamping position;

Fig. 2' is a plan view of the stretching and tting apparatus shown inFig. 1 j

Fig. 3 visva sectional view, thereo f in the di? and Fig. 4 is a sideelevationpartially in section of a stretching and tting apparatus havinga modified typeof adjusting mechanism.

` rection of the arrows on'the line 3--3 of Fig. 1; i.

'5 -My device consists generally of a flat platelike base portion,indicatedby thevnumeral ID, whichA is preferably formed of metal andwhich Vsupports the adjustable upstanding rib or n II and haspivotallymounted thereon a clamping member I2 adaptedlto fit around theribl portion II when in clamping position. As stated above, the base I0is preferably in the form of a flat plate generally rectangular inshape, and-is provided with a central opening or slot I4 extending fromadjacent the left-hand side of the base portion, as viewed in Figs. '1,'2 and 4, to a point beyond the center thereof, and pivotally secured inthe slot I4 adjacent the end thereof so that it maybe pivoted upwardlyor downwardly is theupstanding rib or fin II, which is an elongatedrelatively thin member and is preferably. made of metal and tapersgenerally from the free end toward the pivoted end, the free end thereofpreferably having a greater degree of taper than the pivoted endthereof, as shown in the drawing. However, the degree of taper may bevaried in accordance with the amount and type of stretch and ttingdesired to be secured in the skins, furs orhides being treated.

Suitable meansare provided adjacent ,thefree v end of the rib portionII. for adjustingv its position and for'retaining it in any desiredposition. Thus, in the form of myinvention shown in the first twoiigures of the drawing, the rib I I is provided with a vertical upwardlyprojecting winglike portion Aat its free end, indicatedv by the numeralI1, and with a cylindrical member I8 y formed integral with` or securedthereto, and

having'a central opening for loosely receiving a threaded shaft I9, thelower end of rwhich rests on the base portion I0. The cylindrical memberI8 has a horizontal cut-out portion into this manner the rib II may bepivoted upwardly e or downwardly, thereby shifting its height and inthat manner varying the amount which the furs, skins vor hides beingtreated are stretched or shaped. Y

So as to lock the shaft I9 in any desired position and thereby retainthe rib I I at the desired height, I provide a knurled nut 2l threadedto the shaft I9 above the cylindrical portion I8. When the shaft isscrewed to the desired position by means of the nut 20, the nut 2I istightened against the top of the cylindrical portion I8,Y

thereby retaining the shaft in fixed position.

So as to conveniently indicate to the operator the position at which therib is disposed, the shaft I9 may be provided with a head 22 at itsupper end having a forked or bifurcated lateral projection 23, two legsof which pass on either side of the vertical projecting portion I'I,which is provided with suitable graduations 25 to indicate the height atwhich the rib is disposed. The projections 23 also prevent the shaft I9from rotating when nut 20 is turned.

The adjusting means, of course, may be varied and in Fig. 4 I show amodified type of adjusting Y means in which the rib portion II isprovided with a vertical wing-like projecting portion I'I having acurved or arcuate outer face, indicated by the numeral 25, which is acurve or `an'arc drawn from the pivotal point I5. DisposedV at a slightangle adjacent the curved or arcuate face 26 is a post 2l held inposition on the base or plate I0 by some suitable fasteners, such asscrews 28. Supported in an angular position on Ythe post so that it mayfreely rotate, as `by means of a screw 29, is a cylindrical feed member30 having a knulled spiral thread 3| formed on the outer surface thereofwhich engages teeth 32 formed on the arcuate face at'the end of the ribportion. So as to allow for the arcuate shape of the outer end of theribportion, there should not be too tight lan engagement between the teeth32 and the spiral thread 3l formed on the feed member 3i). In this formof my invention the rib I:I is adjusted by means of rotating the feedmember 30, rotation in one direction resulting in raising the ribportion and rotation in the opposite direction resulting in lowering it.Because of the relatively gradual pitch of thethread 3|, the position ofthe rib portion I'I cannot Vbe accidently `disturbed.

In both forms of my invention I provide guide members adjacent the freeend of the rib or iin I I so as to hold it in proper position at anyadjusted height thereof. In the form yof my invention shown in the firsttwo figures of the drawing-the guide members are in the forni of two`upstanding members '49 spaced a short distanceapart and between which isdisposedthe -n Yor rib; In the form of my invention shown vin Figfl theguide members, Vindicated by the'numeral 149', are preferably slightlyarcuate in shape :and 'are likewise spaced a Yshort distance apartandthe l n or rib II is disposed therebetween.

Returning again `to thestructure Vcommon to both forms of my invention,Vthe clamping member I2 is of aV size and shape 'to fit faround'the ribportion II Ywhen in clamping position, and fis' preferably formed from asingle piece of metal having side portions 33, the free end portion 34having a handle member 35 formed integral therewith and a pivotal endportion 36 surrounding a central opening 3l of a size to receive theupstanding rib portion `I I when the clamp :is`in lowermost or clampingposition. The pivoted end 36 of the clamping member is'in 4the form of asolid block having Aa flat abutment wall 39 formed at the end thereof,substantiallyatright angles to the top, andis Vpivotally 4mountedbetween two supporting lugs 40 formed integral with or secured to thebase portion. The clamping member is so formed and so mounted that itmay be shifted from its lowermost clamping position in engagement withthe base portion I0 and with the rib portion II projecting through thecentral opening 31 thereof to a partially elevated position, asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. l, 0I'

to a fully elevated position.

In order to hold the clamping member in its ,lowermost or clampingposition when in use and to prevent it from accidentally releasing, Iprovide suitable retaining mechanism such as that indicated by thenumeral 4I, comprising a hollow cylinder 42 having a spiral spring43disposed therein under tension so as toV normally urge plunger 44outwardly, causing the disc-shaped head 45 thereof to engage and pressagainst the abutment wall `v39 formed on the pivoted end of the clampingmember, thereby holding the clamping member in clamping position. Whenthe'clamping member 'is pivoted upwardly it will be seen that due to thefact thatV the abutment wall 39 is substantiallyl vertical and parallelto the face of disc 45 when `in `clamping position, the plunger 44 willbe shifted toward theright in Fig. lagainst the tension of the spring43. The tension'of the spring 43 may be regulated and adjusted bysuitable means, such Aasscrew 46, threaded into the end of the cylinder42 and engaging the end of the spiral springopposite to .that whichengages the plunger 44. The'retain` ing mechanism4I is held in positionby suitable means, such as screws 41, passing through brackets V48formed `on the retaining member in the plate or base portion I0. When inuse my device may be held in position by suitable means such as screws,tacks or nails passing through the holes 5!! formed in the base.

In using my device the rib portion `I I is first adjusted to the desiredheight by means of releasing the vnut l2 I in the first form ofmyinvention, and turning the Vnut 2D 'tothe desired amount, or in thesecond form of myinvention as shown in Fig. 4, by means of turning theadjusting member 30 to the desired degree. The clamping member is thenshifted to elevated position Vand the portion of the skin, hide or furwhich Vis to be stretched or tted after having been first pref pared inthe usual manner as by being moistened or dampened with water to softenit is placed over the rib portion II, and the skin, hide or fur isvpulled taut and .securedin position, as 'by being tacked or nailedadjacent its `ends to the furriers board, and the clamping member isthen shifted to its lowermost or clamping position, stretching orpulling the skin,v hide or fur tightly over the rib portion, as'appearsin dotted lines in Fig. 3. Due to Jthepressure of the plunger v44.against the abutment wall at the -end of the clamping member,the'clamp-ing member lwill .be retained in clamping position and thefur, -skin or hide .is thus allowed to remain in the clamping memberuntil the desired amount of stretch or fitting has been'secured. TheYclamping'fmember is then shifted to elevated position and the skin,hide or fur is removed.

From the foregoing illustrated .and idescribed embodimentshf myinvention, it will-be apparent that I have provided an Yimprovedstretching and fitting device `for use in stretching 4and fitting skins,hides, .furs `or the like, which is adjustable so that .the skins, hidesor .furs may be tted, shaped, and .stretched to the Adesired amount,which is provided with .a clamping member -for holding the skins,.hidesfor iursin positiomhaving retaining mechanism for holding theclamping member in clamping position so that it can not be accidentlydisplaced, and which is of a simple and inexpensive construction and canbe used forv a long period of time with comparative freedom from Wear.V

IcIaim: Y

1. A stretching and fitting device comprising4 a relatively thinelongated-- member pivotally mounted-adjacent one end, means forpivotally c shifting the member so as to adjust its height andV a clampfor clamping the article to be stretched over and around said member.

2. A stretching and tting device comprising a relatively thin elongatedmember tapering from one end toward the other and pivotally mountedadjacent the smaller end, means'ior pivotally shifting said member so asto adjust the height thereoiand a clamping device for clamping thearticle to bestretched over andV around said member.

3.`A stretching and fitting devicefcomprising a relatively thinelongated member tapering from one end toward the other and pivotallymounted adjacent the smaller end, means for Vpivotally thereof, saidmeans having locking mechanism so v as to hold the memberat the desiredposition, and aclamping device forfclamping the article to be stretchedover ,and around said'member.

5. A stretching and'tting device comprising a relatively thin elongatedmember, a clamping devicepivotally mounted adjacent one end offsaid Ymember so as to be shiftable from clamping position with portionsdisposed aroundsaid member to elevated position above said member, andmeans for releasablyr holding the clamping/member in clamping position,said means including a spring pressed plunger contacting the end of saidclamping device when in clamping position.

6. A stretching and tting device comprising a relatively thin elongatedmember, a clamping device pivotally` mounted adjacent one end of saidmembers@ as to be shiftable from clamping position with portionsdisposed around said member to elevatedV position above said member, andmeans for releasably holding the clamping member in clamping position,said means including an abutment Wall at the pivoted end of the clampendof said member so as to be shiftable from` i clamping position Withportions disposed around' lsaid member to elevated position above saidmember, and means for releasably holding the device in clampingposition. 'f

8. A'stretching and tting device comprising a supporting member, arelatively elongated rib 'tapering in height from one end to theother'and supported on said supporting member so as'to be shiftable in avertical plane relative to said supporting memberto adjust its height,the higher portion of said rib shifting a greateramount than the lowerportion when the rib is adjusted, andV a clamping device for clampingthe article to be stretched over said rib.

JOSEPH PE'I'I'Y.

